The Clinical Medical Group in Southern Iraq was opened on 24 March 2003.

Since then the hospital has received 4583 inpatients of which 1762 have been surgical admissions.

The aim of this paper is to discuss the number, severity, mechanism of injury and overall outcome of all the orthopaedic admissions seen within the hospital complex, including all serving personnel, foreign employed nationals and foreign civilians treated. Particular reference will be made to the percentage of admissions returned to front line activities and a comparison of this percentage made with general surgical and medical admissions.

Data for this retrospective review has been obtained from the hospital, operating theatre and patient records currently held in theatre.